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Church needs bold witness, sacrifice, Pope says Vatican, Jun. 29, 2007 (CWNews.com) - Pope Benedict XVI (bio - news) formally declared a special year dedicated to St. Paul, as he opened the celebration of the feast of Sts. Peter and Paul with a Vespers service on June 28. In his homily during the service, the Pontiff said that today's Church needs the dedication of Christians as courageous as St. Paul in bringing the message of the Gospel to a secular society. "Now as then," he said, "Christ needs apostles who are willing to sacrifice themselves." In his early years Saul of Tarsus was hostile to Christianity, the Pope recalled. But after his profound conversion on the road to Damascus he became a fearless preacher and missionary. His energy and his bravery were essential to the growth of the early Church, the Pope noted. Today's Christians must be similarly bold, the Pope continued. He said that the message of the Church "lacks credibility" unless there are some people ready to make sacrifices on behalf of the truth-- "to pay for their faith in every situation." The feast of Sts. Peter and Paul, patrons of Rome, is a holiday at the Vatican, and the offices of the Holy See were closed on June 29. After opening the celebration with a Thursday-evening Vespers service at the basilica of St. Paul outside the Walls, the Holy Father presided at Mass in St. Peter's basilica on Friday. During the ceremony the Pope imposed the pallium symbolic of metropolitan authority on 46 archbishops who had been appointed during the past year. As has become customary, the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople sent a delegation, headed by Metropolitan Emmanuel Adamidis of France, to join in the celebration at the Vatican.
Benedict's
New Book To Follow, ''The Pope's Path Towards Jesus''
Rome,
Apr 13, 2007 (CNA) - The Italian publishing house, Rizzoli has released an
extensive press release and synopsis of Pope Benedict's new book, "Jesus of
Nazareth." The book is to go on sale in Italian, German, and Polish
bookshops starting Monday, April 16, which is also the Pope's 80th birthday. The
volume, 448 pages long, is to be translated into 20 languages, and will be
available in English starting May 15th. More
Than a Million People Expected To Join Pope in Brazil
Sao Paulo, Apr 13, 2007 (CNA)
- One of the hosts of Pope Benedict XVI's upcoming visit to Brazil, Archbishop
Odilo Scherer, said this more than one million people are expected to attend the
Masses which the Pope will celebrate. During
his visit to the country, the Pope will celebrate two massive outdoor liturgies.
The first will take place on May 11 at the Campo de Marte in Sao Paulo for the
canonization of Friar Galvao, the first Brazilian to be raised to the altar. The
second Mass will take place on Sunday, May 13, to open the V General Conference
of the Latin American Bishops' Conference at the Shrine of Our Lady of Aparecida.
In addition to the two outdoor Masses, the Pope will also meet with an estimated
35,000 young people in a stadium in Sao Paulo. Pope
Benedict To Celebrate 80th Birthday with Mass on Sunday
Vatican City, Apr 10, 2007 (CNA).- The Vatican issued a reminder this morning that Pope Benedict XVI will mark the occasion of his 80th birthday with a Mass of Thanksgiving in St. Peter’s Basilica. The celebration falls on the same day the Church celebrates the second Sunday of Easter, known as “Divine Mercy Sunday.”
Benedict XVI's Agenda: God's Will At Inauguration, New Pope Says He Plans to Listen VATICAN CITY, APRIL 24, 2005 (Zenit.org).- Benedict XVI says the priorities for his pontificate are those of the will of God, not his own ideas. During a Mass today in St. Peter's Square to inaugurate his pontificate, the new Pope received the pallium and the Fisherman's Ring, symbols of his Petrine ministry. "At this moment there is no need for me to present a program of governance," the German-born Pontiff said in his homily to an audience of 400,000 people. "I was able to give an indication of what I see as my task in my message of Wednesday, April 20, and there will be other opportunities to do so." The message the Holy Father referred to was one he delivered to cardinals in the Sistine Chapel after the Mass he celebrated the day following his election as Pope. In that message, he committed himself to promote unity in the Church, unity with other Christian confessions, and unity within the human family, following the guidelines outlined by the Second Vatican Council. "My real program of governance is not to do my own will, not to pursue my own ideas, but to listen, together with the whole Church, to the word and will of the Lord, to be guided by him, so that he himself will lead the Church at this hour of our history," Benedict XVI said in the homily at his inaugural Mass. "Instead of putting forward a program, I should simply like to comment on the two liturgical symbols which represent the inauguration of the Petrine ministry; both these symbols, moreover, reflect clearly what we heard proclaimed in today's readings," noted the Pope. The Holy Father's homily was interrupted by applause 39 times. "And now, at this moment, weak servant of God that I am, I must assume this enormous task, which truly exceeds all human capacity. How can I do this? How will I be able to do it?" he asked. "I do not have to carry alone what in truth I could never carry alone. All the saints of God are there to protect me, to sustain me and carry me. And your prayers, my dear friends, your indulgence, your love, your faith and your hope accompany me," the 78-year-old Pope said. "Yes, the Church is alive," he said in reference to the past days, from the sickness and death of Pope John Paul II to the holding of the conclave and the papal election. "And the Church is young," stated the German Pontiff. "She holds within herself the future of the world and therefore shows each of us the way towards the future." "The Church is alive and we are seeing it: We are experiencing the joy that the Risen Lord promised his followers. The Church is alive -- she is alive because Christ is alive, because he is truly risen," he added. One of the words Benedict XVI most repeated was "joy." The "servant of the servants of God," as he acknowledged himself to be, recalled the words at the beginning of his predecessor's pontificate, when he exclaimed: "Do not be afraid! Open wide the doors for Christ!" "The Pope was addressing the mighty, the powerful of this world, who feared that Christ might take away something of their power if they were to let him in, if they were to allow the faith to be free," Benedict XVI continued. "Yes, he would certainly have taken something away from them: the dominion of corruption, the manipulation of law and the freedom to do as they pleased. But he would not have taken away anything that pertains to human freedom or dignity, or to the building of a just society," the Pope said. "If we let Christ into our lives, we lose nothing, nothing, absolutely nothing of what makes life free, beautiful and great," he added. "No! Only in this friendship are the doors of life opened wide. Only in this friendship do we experience beauty and liberation." Benedict XVI ended by appealing to the "dear young people": "Do not be afraid of Christ! He takes nothing away, and he gives you everything. When we give ourselves to him, we receive a hundredfold in return. Yes, open, open wide the doors to Christ -- and you will find true life." ZE05042405 email this article TOP Inaugural Mass Full of New Symbolic Gestures Emphasize Pope as Successor of Peter VATICAN CITY, APRIL 24, 2005 (Zenit.org).- Benedict XVI's inaugural Mass was the first one to incorporate new symbolic gestures that finalize the process of updating the installation rites of a new Pope. The solemn Mass for the beginning of the pontificate replaced the coronation ceremony, which had been abolished by Paul VI in which a new pope received a tiara. The process of updating the rite began during the Second Vatican Council, but hadn't been finalized when John Paul I was elected in 1978, or when John Paul II became Pope about a month later. Substitute measures were used in these ceremonies, Monsignor Crispino Valenziano, of the Office for the Liturgical Celebrations of the Supreme Pontiff, told reporters Saturday. The new Pope approved the rites a few hours after his election, and the Vatican reported that Benedict XVI wished to give the ceremony an intense symbolic value to highlight the Petrine (of Peter) dimension of his ministry. Visit to the Grottoes One of the most significant novelties took place at the beginning of the Mass on Sunday with a visit to the grottoes underneath St. Peter's Basilica to pay homage at the tomb of the first Pope, St. Peter. Monsignor Valenziano explained that Benedict XVI had in mind to underline that he "was not elected successor of John Paul II, but of Peter." The Holy Father, accompanied by the Eastern patriarchs, went down from the Altar of the Confession to the first Pope's sepulcher. At that moment, two deacons collected the two symbols that would later be imposed on the Pope: the Fisherman's Ring and the pallium, which had been laid by the tomb throughout the night. "I leave from where the apostle arrived," Benedict XVI said before processing to St. Peter's Square. The liturgist of the St. Anselm Pontifical Liturgical Institute explained that in the past, popes were sometimes crowned in the Sistine Chapel, while others were crowned in the basilica. However, Benedict XVI began his pontificate solemnly in St. Peter's Square "because it is the place of Peter's martyrdom," he explained, and not for logistical reasons. The pallium Benedict XVI's pallium is different from that of the last Popes, as it has the shape of the original pallium, explained Monsignor Valenziano. It is an ancient episcopal symbol woven in pure wool, which Roman Bishops have worn since the fourth century to symbolize the yoke of Christ, which the "servant of the servants of God," as the Pope is known, carries on his shoulders. On this occasion, the novelty is that the model is like those used by the Church in the first millennium and is inspired by the medieval mosaics of some churches of Rome. Much larger than the one used by John Paul II, the new Pope's pallium has images of "Jesus, the Good Shepherd," as the Pontiff carries it on his shoulders, as if it were a "lost sheep." The symbolic representation of the pallium is completed with five red crosses, a reminder of the "wounds of the Crucified and several pins, symbol of the nails." Fisherman's Ring The innovation of the Fisherman's Ring is that it will have the same image on it as the lead papal seal that the Pope uses to seal documents. It is an image of St. Peter with the boat and fishing nets, and for this reason is called the "the Fisherman's Ring," as the first Pope was that fisherman who, believing in Jesus' word, cast his net into the waters and miraculously caught a great quantity of fish. When fitting the ring, the Pope commented that he liked the size 24 -- "It is the double of 12" -- referring to the Twelve Apostles. It was forged by the Association of Roman Jewelers. Cardinal Angelo Sodano, Vatican secretary of state and vice dean of the College of Cardinals, placed the Fisherman's Ring on Benedict XVI's right hand. Rite of obedience In another change, not all the cardinals knelt down in a gesture of obedience to the new Pope, as they had already done so the day of his election. A symbolic group of 12 persons, representing the Twelve Apostles, knelt down in place of the whole Church: three cardinals, a bishop, a priest, a deacon, a man and a woman religious, a married couple and two newly confirmed youths. St. Paul Outside the Walls Another novelty will be the Holy Father's visit on Monday, a day after the official start of the pontificate, to the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls, which houses St. Paul's tomb. The Pope wished to visit it immediately "to express the inseparable bond of the Roman Church with the Apostle Paul. Peter and Paul are the two founders of the Church of Rome," explained Monsignor Valenziano. This basilica is entrusted to the Benedictines by the Holy See. Taking possession of St. John Lateran The Pope will take possession of his Chair ("incatedratio"), the Basilica of St. John Lateran, cathedral of the Diocese of Rome, on May 7. In another novelty, during the "incatedratio" there will be "a celebration to the Holy Spirit, who infuses wisdom," said Monsignor Valenziano. The celebration, during which the Pope will sit for the first time on the chair, "will be totally dedicated to the Holy Spirit," he explained. Visit to St. Mary Major The date has yet to be announced but the Pope also plans on visiting the fourth major basilica of Rome, St. Mary Major. The Pope will go to St. Mary Major Basilica to greet the Blessed Virgin with the prayer "Ave Maria Stella." Mary's image as the salvation of the Roman people ("salus populi romani") is housed in that basilica. After greeting the image with the words of the Gospel, Benedict XVI will pronounce for the first time a prayer of Eastern Patriarch St. Germanus of Constantinople, dedicated to the protection of the city's citizens and visitors. ZE05042406 email this article TOP World Leaders Attend Benedict XVI's Inauguration Heads of State, Royalty, Religious Leaders Greet New Pope VATICAN CITY, APRIL 24, 2005 (Zenit.org).- Political and religious representatives from around the world surrounded Benedict XVI during his inauguration Mass. Many of the dignitaries, who said their last farewell to Pope John Paul II on April 8, returned today to St. Peter's Square to greet the new Pontiff, the former Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, in a ceremony followed by some 400,000 faithful, including 140 official delegations. As Pope, Benedict XVI has become head of the smallest state in the word, as well as leader of the world's 1 billion Catholics. On hard for the inauguration were close to 40 heads of sate and government, in addition to representatives of royal houses, many of whom saw Cardinal Ratzinger preside at John Paul II's funeral two weeks ago in his capacity as dean of the College of Cardinals. Benedict XVI presided at the Mass that officially begins his pontificate. The Mass began with the prolonged applause of dignitaries and faithful. From reserved places on the right of the Vatican esplanade, the rite was followed by royal houses, among them the King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofía of Spain; the Duke of Edinburgh, husband of Queen Elizabeth II of England; and the heirs to the Belgian throne. Also present was William of Holland; the Grand Dukes of Luxembourg, Henry and Teresa; and Prince Albert of Monaco, with a black band on his chest as a sign of mourning for his recently deceased father, Prince Rainier. In the rows immediately behind, 30 heads of state and government, most of them from Europe and Latin America, followed the ceremony. From Germany, the new Pope's homeland, came Chancellor Gerhard Schröder and President Horst Köhler, who were seated near other leaders, such as Austrian President Heinz Fischer; French Prime Minister Jean-Pierre Raffarin; and Italian President Carlo Ciampi. From Latin America came Argentina's President Nestor Kirchner; Colombia's Álvaro Uribe; Honduras' Ricardo Maduro; Paraguay's Nicanor Duarte; El Salvador's Elias Antonio Saca; and the Dominican Republic's Leonel Fernández. The United States sent Florida Governor Jeb Bush, the president's brother. At the end of the solemn ceremony, and after a visibly moved Benedict XVI went around St. Peter's Square in a convertible car, the dignitaries went into St. Peter's Basilica to greet the Pontiff. In a long and respectful line the world leaders and their respective delegations went up to greet him, seated before the Altar of the Confession, near Bernini's famous baldachino. The first to exchange greetings with the Pope were leaders of his native land, President Köhler and Chancellor Schröder. Some greeted the Pope in a very warm manner, especially the Polish delegation headed by President Aleksander Kwasniewski. Among the numerous high-ranking foreign representatives were envoys from Africa, the Middle East and Asia. Promoter of ecumenical dialogue and Christian unity, Benedict XVI was also surrounded by religious leaders from around the world. Among them was the Anglican archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams, in addition to representatives of the Orthodox Churches, such as Metropolitan Kirill of the Moscow Patriarchate and Archbishop Chrysostomos of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople. ZE05042407 email this article TOP Pope Meets Privately With Italian News Editors Greets Them Personally VATICAN CITY, APRIL 24, 2005 (Zenit.org).- Before his audience with some 5,000 journalists, Benedict XVI met privately with a select group of Italian newspaper editors and television directors. The Holy Father thanked them Saturday for all of their efforts, from the two hospitalizations and death of John Paul II, to his own election as Pope. "I know you have worked very much and we are pleased with the way everything went," said the Pontiff. The meeting, which lasted just over five minutes, was attended by the editors of Avvenire, Il Corriere della Sera, Il Tempo, Il Messaggero, the assistant editor of La Repubblica, as well as the directors of the two largest television networks in Italy -- RAI and Mediaset. The meeting took place in one of the private halls next to Paul VI Hall. Antonio Pelayo, president of the Foreign Press Association in Italy, told ZENIT that the Pope spoke personally with the media leaders. Paolo Mieli, director of Il Corriere della Sera, reminded the Pope of the press conference they held together to present John Paul II's book "Memory and Identity." The Pope commented to Clemente Mimum, Jewish journalist and director of the news program of channel "RAI-1," that he usually watches the network's 8 p.m. news. Benedict XVI also noted that the Jewish feast of Passover was being celebrated that day. Fabrizio Del Noce, director of RAI 1, introduced himself as the son of the philosopher Augusto Del Noce: "I remember him very well; he always defended me," said the Holy Father. He also thanked Dino Boffo for his news coverage as director of Avvenire, of Sat2000 television, and of InBlu radio network, all Catholic media. The Holy Father greeted Salvatore Mazza, correspondent of Avvenire in the Vatican, and president of AIGAV, the association of journalists accredited by the Vatican press office. Benedict XVI stated in general that he reads the newspapers to keep abreast of current events. ZE05042404 email this article TOP Benedict XVI Hopes to Visit Poland VATICAN CITY, APRIL 24, 2005 (Zenit.org).- Benedict XVI expressed a desire to make a pastoral visit to Poland, a trip that could link his pontificate more closely with that of John Paul II. When greeting news reporters in an audience Saturday, the director of KAI, the Polish Catholic news agency, commented to the Pope: "Holiness, we hope to see you in Poland." "Yes, I too hope to see you in Poland," replied the new Pontiff. Benedict XVI has confirmed his plans to go to Cologne, Germany, for World Youth Day in mid-August. A trip within Italy, to Bari, is also possible on the occasion of the Italian National Eucharistic Congress, May 21-29. No confirmation of this trip has been made. Vatican observers speculate that a trip to Poland could take place before World Youth Day. ZE05042401 email this article TOP Mary Ann Glendon: Expect Great Things From Benedict XVI Interview With President of Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences ROME, APRIL 24, 2005 (Zenit.org).- Reactions to the election of Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger as Benedict XVI have been mixed, but on the whole Catholics are happy with the new Pope, says Mary Ann Glendon. In this interview with Avvenire, the president of the Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences comments on her own reaction to the new Pope, and her expectations for his pontificate. Glendon, a Harvard law professor, became the first female president of the Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences in 2004. She was also head of the Holy See delegation to the 4th U.N. Women's Conference in 1995, and serves as a member of the Pontifical Council for the Laity. Q: What was your first reaction at the news of the election of Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger as the new Pontiff? Glendon: Even though the election was not unexpected, it was a thrilling moment when Benedict XVI emerged onto the balcony above St. Peter's Square! Catholics of my generation are fortunate to have lived in a time of extraordinary Popes, and I believe we now stand at the beginning of yet another great pontificate. Q: Was your first impression confirmed by the homily pronounced today by the new Pope? Glendon: It was heartening to know that the new Pope, like his predecessor, has accorded such a high priority to Christian unity. The message in the Sistine Chapel confirms the links of mind and heart that will provide continuity in many ways with the work of John Paul II. Q: Were you totally satisfied with the choice, or had you hoped for someone else? And why? Glendon: I was delighted with the choice. By choosing one of his closest collaborators, the cardinals paid tribute to Pope John Paul II and indicated their hopes that the Church will continue to be led along the course he charted toward a springtime of evangelization. As president of the Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences, I take special pleasure in the fact that the new Pope is a brilliant scholar who has long been a member of our sister academy, the Pontifical Academy of Science. Q: The new Pope was very close to John Paul II. He has though been welcomed with mixed reactions. Why do you think he is not seen as his successor? Glendon: Anyone who was so united in thought to John Paul II will inevitably get "mixed reactions" -- from the same people who had "mixed reactions" to John Paul II. For most Catholics throughout the world, however, I believe the reactions are overwhelmingly positive -- precisely because Benedict XVI is seen as a successor who will build creatively on the major themes of John Paul II. He will, of course, bring his own remarkable gifts to the papacy, the Church and the world. Q: Cardinal Ratzinger has been known as "cardinal no" for some of his positions on women in the clergy, homosexuality and contraception. Do you think the Church should have chosen a more moderate Pope? Glendon: Cardinal Ratzinger's primary responsibility for many years has been to protect and defend the precious deposit of the faith. Even though some of these doctrines are hard to follow at times, few Catholics really want the Church to "dumb down" her teachings to the level of a permissive society. A Boston radio talk-show host -- well known for his irreverent attitudes -- has defended the choice of Cardinal Ratzinger this way: "Look, I'm a bad Catholic and I know it. But a Pope has to stand for something, and even I don't want a Pope saying the things I believe in." Q: Did you know Cardinal Ratzinger? If yes, do you think he is being portrayed in an unfair way? Glendon: I have known Cardinal Ratzinger only through his writings and reputation, but everything I know about him leads me to believe he has been unfairly caricatured. I was very impressed that the respected Vatican journalist John Allen recently apologized publicly for what he now concedes was an unbalanced portrayal in his widely read book on Cardinal Ratzinger. The gap between caricature and reality was evident when the world saw and heard the real Cardinal Ratzinger deliver his remarkable homily at the funeral of his predecessor. Q: Do you think his past in the Nazi youth movement can damage him, or the relations between Catholics and Jews? Or damage the Church itself? Glendon: My husband, who is Jewish, tells me that this is simply a non-issue for Jews, who are well aware that Cardinal Ratzinger, like John Paul II, has worked hard to heal historical memories and to improve relations between Catholics and their elder brothers in faith. There are, of course, some dissident Catholics who will seize on any pretext to vilify Church leaders who reject Reformation-style Church reforms. But with respect to young Ratzinger, they will run into opposition, not only from the facts about his life, but from Jews who are becoming indignant at the exploitation of the tragedy of the Jewish people by Catholic dissenters. Q: Do you think this choice sends a message to the Catholics around the world? Which one? Glendon: The cardinals' choice, and the rapidity with which they reached consensus, sends a reassuring message that Church renewal and the New Evangelization will continue along the general lines laid down by the fathers of the Second Vatican Council as carried forward by Popes Paul VI and John Paul II. Q: What is your answer to the critics that accuse the Church not to address issues relevant to our time, such as abortion and gay marriage? Glendon: The Church does address these issues, proclaiming the truth about the human person in and out of season. The truth is not always easy to hear, especially in a hedonistic and materialistic society. But the Church as an "expert in humanity" knows that we neither help people nor respect their dignity when we fail to tell them the truth. Q: Which type of Pope will Benedict XVI be? How do you think Benedict XVI can be beneficial to the world? Glendon: The answer to those questions lie hidden in the future. But we can confidently expect great things from a Pope who is such a brilliant scholar, gifted linguist, experienced pastor and skilled administrator. ZE05042429 email this article TOP
The HTML graphics in this message have been displayed. [Edit Preferences - What's This?] Benedict XVI's Primary Commitment: Christian Unity Took Key Steps When He Was a Cardinal VATICAN CITY, APRIL 20, 2005 (Zenit.org).- Pope Benedict XVI has assumed "as a primary commitment" the work of promoting full unity among Christians separated in various churches and confessions. The former Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger explained this in the first message of his pontificate, read in the Sistine Chapel today, at the conclusion of a Eucharistic concelebration with cardinals. The Successor of the Apostle Peter, as he describes himself, "aims, as a primary commitment, to work without sparing energies for the reconstitution of the full and visible unity of all the followers of Christ. This is his ambition, this is his imperative duty." "He is aware that for this, manifestations of good sentiments are not enough," the new Pope said. "There must be concrete gestures that penetrate spirits and move consciences, leading each one to that interior conversion that is the assumption of all progress on the path of ecumenism." "Theological dialogue is necessary, in-depth knowledge of the historical reasons of choices made in the past is perhaps indispensable. But what is urgent in the main is that 'purification of the memory,' so many times recalled by John Paul II, which alone can dispose spirits to receive the full truth of Christ," Benedict XVI stated. "It is before him, supreme Judge of every living being, that each one of us must place himself, in the awareness of one day having to render an account to him of what one has done or not done for the great good of the full and visible unity of all his disciples," reminded Benedict XVI. The Pope "is prepared to do all that is in his power to promote the fundamental cause of ecumenism." "In the footsteps of his Predecessors, he is fully determined to cultivate every initiative that might seem appropriate to promote contacts and understanding with representatives of the diverse churches and ecclesial communities," asserted the Pope. To all Christian leaders he addressed "the most cordial greeting in Christ, the only Lord of all." As prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, Cardinal Ratzinger had a decisive role in the writing of the "Joint Declaration on the Doctrine of Justification," signed in October 1999 by the Holy See and the World Lutheran Federation in Augsburg, Germany. The declaration, one of the most important ecumenical steps since Martin Luther's split with the Catholic Church in the 16th century, took place thanks to the dialogue held in November 1998 between Cardinal Ratzinger and Lutheran Bishop Johannes Hanselman in Munich. Cardinal Ratzinger was also a committed promoter of the recognition that the Catholic Church expresses to the Orthodox Churches, which maintain the apostolic succession and the sacraments. As was John Paul II's custom, Benedict XVI addressed his last words to the Blessed Virgin Mary, in whose hands he placed "the present and future of my person and of the Church." ZE05042005 email this article TOP "Collegial Communion" Emphasized by Pope How Benedict XVI Envisions Papal Ties With World's Bishops VATICAN CITY, APRIL 20, 2005 (Zenit.org).- Benedict XVI outlined a proposal for the unity of the Catholic Church based on "collegial communion" between the pope and the bishops. In the first message of his pontificate, the new Pope surmounts the debate that has been taking place in some Catholic circles between those calling for "collegiality" -- that is, a greater voice for the bishops of various dioceses -- and those who emphasize the role of the Pope as pastor of the universal Church. In his message, read in Latin in the Sistine Chapel today at the end of his first Mass concelebrated as Pope with the cardinals, Benedict XVI asked all bishops worldwide "to be by my side with prayer and counsel, so that I can truly be 'Servus servorum Dei'" -- the Servant of the servants of God, one of the descriptions proper to Roman pontiffs. "As Peter and the other apostles constituted, by the will of the Lord, a unique Apostolic College, in the same way the Successor of Peter and the bishops, successors of the apostles, must be very closely united among themselves, as the Council confirmed forcefully," explained the new Pope. "This collegial communion, though in the diversity of roles and functions of the Roman Pontiff and of the bishops, is at the service of the Church and of unity in the faith, from which depends in notable measure the efficacy of the evangelizing action in the contemporary world," the German-born Pontiff added. "I wish to continue on this path on which my venerated Predecessors advanced, concerned only to proclaim to the whole world the living presence of Christ," he affirmed. ZE05042003 email this article TOP New Pope's 1st Outing Among People Outside Vatican Will Stay in Domus Sanctae Marthae for the Time Being VATICAN CITY, APRIL 20, 2005 (Zenit.org).- On the first full day of his pontificate, Benedict XVI left the Vatican walls and walked among the people, to go to the residence where he lived before the start of the conclave. At 5 p.m., the Pope left by car through St. Anne's Gate to go to his former residence. Many people lined the Via di Porta Angelica in the brief journey the Holy Father had to make, when he returned to the Vatican around 7 p.m. He was smiling and relaxed, and greeted those present. "I am extremely moved," said the former Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger with a broad smile as he left his former home. Shortly after, he kissed some children, greeted some people, and got into the car that took him back to the Vatican. In the morning, "the Holy Father Benedict XVI visited the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith" -- over which he presided until John Paul II's death -- "where in a very cordial meeting, he greeted his men and women aides of the dicastery," confirmed a statement by the director of the Vatican press office, Joaquín Navarro Valls. He was received by the secretary, Archbishop Angelo Amato, and members of the dicastery. In a festive atmosphere, the Holy Father spoke briefly, greeted all the staff and explained the meaning of the choice of his name as Roman Pontiff, which is inspired by Benedict XV's pontificate, a man of peace, and in the role carried out by the co-patron of Europe, Benedict of Nursia. Benedict XVI joked, recalling the words that Jesus said to his predecessor, the Apostle Peter, "when you are old, someone else will fasten your belt and lead you where you do not wish to go," causing laughter among those present. The Holy Father then entered the papal apartment of the Apostolic Palace removing the seals that closed it, according to the norms established for the period of the vacant see, which just ended, reported the statement published by Navarro Valls. The chamberlain, Cardinal Eduardo Martínez Somalo; Cardinal Angelo Sodano, former Vatican Secretary of State; Archbishop Leonardo Sandri, substitute of the Secretariat of State; and other members of the Roman Curia were with the new Pope at that moment. The Vatican Television Center broadcasted images of the Pope as he sat in his study in the papal apartment and was seen writing, on a white sheet of paper, his new signature as Pontiff. While the papal apartment is being prepared, Benedict XVI will stay at the Domus Sanctae Marthae, the cardinals' residence during the conclave. ZE05042010 email this article TOP
CARDINAL RATZINGER ELECTED POPE On 2nd Day of Conclave; Takes Name of Benedict XVI VATICAN CITY, APRIL 19, 2005 (Zenit.org).- With surprising speed, Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, a longtime confidant of John Paul II, was elected Pope by the conclave, choosing the name Benedict XVI and calling himself "a simple, humble worker." Cheering crowds in a packed St. Peter's Square greeted the Church's 265th Pope as he emerged onto the balcony of St. Peter's Basilica this evening. "Dear brothers and sisters," said the German-born prelate, "after the great Pope, John Paul II, the Lord Cardinals have elected me, a simple, humble worker in the Lord's vineyard." "I am consoled by the fact that the Lord is able to work and act with insufficient instruments and, above all, I rely on your prayers," he said. He was first introduced by Cardinal Jorge Arturo Medina Estévez. The new Pope, who turned 78 last Saturday, was the longtime prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith under his predecessor John Paul II. He appeared smiling and calm as he greeted the tens of thousands below in the square. The crowd responded to the new Holy Father by chanting "Benedict! Benedict!" White smoke poured from the chimney atop the Sistine Chapel at 5:50 p.m. local time and the bells of St. Peter's rang to announce the conclave had picked the new Pope. As Cardinal Ratzinger, he has been widely considered one of the brightest minds in the Church. The conclave was one of the fastest in the past century. Pope Pius XII was elected in 1939 in three ballots over two days. The new Pope was elected after either four or five ballots over two days, the Associated Press said. Under conclave rules, a winner needed two-thirds support, or 77 votes from the 115 cardinal electors. ZE05041927 email this article TOP Solemn Inauguration Sunday for Benedict XVI VATICAN CITY, APRIL 19, 2005 (Zenit.org).- The newly elected Pope Benedict XVI will preside over the solemn Mass of inauguration of his pontificate this coming Sunday at 10 a.m. In a statement, Vatican spokesman Joaquín Navarro Valls also revealed that, at the end of the conclave, the new Pope, the former Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, "decided to dine this evening with the cardinals in the Domus Sanctae Marthae, where he will stay tonight." At 9 a.m. Wednesday the new Holy Father will preside over a Eucharistic concelebration with cardinals in the Sistine Chapel, added Navarro Valls. He said that the Pope "will deliver the homily in Latin." ZE05041903 email this article TOP "A Very Humble, Personable Man" Archbishop Conti, and Others, on the New Pope NEW YORK, APRIL 19, 2005 (Zenit.org).- Bishops in various countries quickly welcomed news of the election of Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger as Pope. Here are excerpts from some of the press statements released today. * * * Archbishop Mario Conti of Glasgow, Scotland I know the new Pope personally. I have had the honor of meeting him several times over the years in Rome. He is a very humble, personable man, quite different from the hard-line "enforcer" image which is often portrayed of him. He is a man of great theological ability, linguistically talented, kindly of manner and of enormous pastoral and administrative experience. He was of course very close to Pope John Paul, knew his mind, and collaborated very closely with him. But he is his own man, and will bring his own gifts to the papacy, to the Church and the world. He will speak and write with a clear voice. He showed in his sermon at the late Pope's funeral that he had the gift of communicating with vast crowds. He spoke simply, directly and movingly. Many who had only known him as the great enforcer were surprised at his kindly, gentle, affectionate words that day. The choice of name is interesting, and I would say, inspiring. The last Pope to bear that name, Benedict XV, was a man of enormous humility who spent himself in the cause of peace. I think we may find a clue to the style of pontificate we are likely to see in that choice of name. --- --- --- Cardinal Keith O'Brien Archbishop of Saint Andrews and Edinburgh, Scotland It has been a great joy for me to share with my brother cardinals in the election of Cardinal Ratzinger as Pope Benedict XVI, he is a man of deep spirituality, a renowned theologian and a wonderful choice as Supreme Pontiff of the Catholic Church. The election of a Pope is a time of joy and hope for Catholics in Scotland and around the world. I am sure that Scotland's Catholics and all people of goodwill in our country will join with me in asking God's fullest blessings on our new Pope -- his greatest title is perhaps the most simple, "Servant of the servants of God"; may he indeed serve all peoples as Christ served and did his holy predecessor pope John Paul II. May our new Pope work for peace throughout the world following the example of his earlier predecessor Pope Benedict XV who died at the time of the First World War. St. Benedict is one of the patron saints of Europe; may he inspire us as we remember Europe's Christian roots and may our new Pope also keep before his own mind and ours the final words in St. Benedict's rule; 'Place no one before Christ.'" --- --- --- Bishop Peter Moran of Aberdeen, Scotland The electors who choose a Pope draw on their wisdom and their experience: but even more, they make their choice after much prayer. We believe that their choice is guided by the Holy Spirit of God. We believe that Pope Benedict XVI is God's choice. On a human level and on a political level the choice is very interesting. Before Pope John Paul II, the choice of a German to be Pope would have been astonishing, almost unheard of; today, we take this particular aspect almost for granted. But once again we have a Pope who grew up in difficult times, under a harsh regime, and in his young adulthood saw his country divided. What about Pope Benedict's age? He is 78. I was in Rome nearly 50 years ago when Giovanni Roncalli, Pope John XXIII, was elected at 78, and people nodded and said, "Oh, just a stopgap Pope." He surprised us all. Joseph Ratzinger may well surprise us, too. He may be elderly in years, but he is vigorous, clearheaded, widely read, cultured and very, very experienced. I look forward to a steady but energetic pontificate. --- --- --- Archbishop Brendan O'Brien President, Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops Most Holy Father … The ministry that you are beginning holds greater interest than ever to a world which has truly become a "global village" through the instant communications of Internet and the mass media. Aware of the global dimensions of its challenges and problems, contemporary society is searching for a universal pastor and teacher to proclaim the news of salvation, who articulates the joys and the hopes, the griefs and the anxieties of this age, and who reminds the followers of Christ that all which is genuinely human is echoed in the hearts and minds of the community of faith. Making our own the words of Saint Paul in his letter to the Romans, appealing through our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Holy Spirit, my brothers and sisters in faith join me in earnest prayer to Our Father on your behalf, that the God of hope fill you with joy and peace. --- --- --- Archbishop Sean Brady of Armagh and primate of All Ireland The election of our new Pope is not only a source of great joy and hope for Catholics throughout the world, it is also an important event for the whole human family. At the beginning of the third millennium we are blessed with a deeper sense of our common humanity and with a shared sense of responsibility in striving for a more just and peaceful world. Pope Benedict XVI will play a critical part in progressing this search, in engaging with people of all faiths and none in constructive dialogue about the joy and hopes, the challenges and the fears of the world. This is a daunting prospect. So I ask Catholics throughout Ireland and all people of good will to pray for Pope Benedict XVI the 264th successor to Saint Peter as he begins his pontificate. ZE05041923 email this article TOP Pro-life Groups Delighted at the Election New Pope Hailed for Strong Pro-life Stance NEW YORK, APRIL 19, 2005 (Zenit.org).- Here is a sampling of reactions to the election of Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger as the new Pope. * * * Father Frank Pavone National director of Priests for Life Priests for Life is delighted at the election of Pope Benedict XVI. For decades, he has been a strong voice in favor of life, clearly articulating the Church's teachings. In particular, he has explained how the Church must be the conscience of the state (see below). We look forward to working together with and under the leadership of the new Pope to advance the Culture of Life. [The following is an excerpt from a report Cardinal Ratzinger made on the occasion of a 1991 consistory of cardinals, which formed the basis for Pope John Paul II's encyclical "Evangelium Vitae"]: "(A) State which arrogates to itself the prerogative of defining which human beings are or are not the subject of rights, and which consequently grants to some the power to violate others' fundamental right to life, contradicts the democratic ideal to which it continues to appeal and undermines the very foundations on which it is built. "By allowing the rights of the weakest to be violated, the State also allows the law of force to prevail over the force of law. One sees, then, that the idea of an absolute tolerance of freedom of choice for some destroys the very foundation of a just mode of social life. The separation of politics from any natural content of law, which is the inalienable patrimony of everyone's moral conscience, deprives social life of its ethical substance and leaves it defenseless before the will of the strongest." --- --- --- Father Thomas Euteneuer, President of Human Life International We thankfully recognize the staunch pro-life commitment of Cardinal Ratzinger during the whole of his episcopacy and we are confident that as Pope Benedict XVI, he will continue his strong defense of the Church's teaching on the sanctity of human life. May the words of Pope John Paul II guide his way in this all-important task, when he said: '(T)he common outcry, which is justly made on behalf of human rights ... is false and illusory if the right to life, the most basic and fundamental right and the condition of all other personal rights, is not defended with maximum determination' ("Christifideles Laici," No. 38). --- --- --- Carl Anderson Supreme Knight, Knights of Columbus The selection of Cardinal Ratzinger as the successor to John Paul II indicates clearly that the College of Cardinals wanted to continue the direction and the tremendous accomplishment of the past 27 years. Like John Paul II, Benedict XVI is both a strong leader and a brilliant theologian. Both were intimately involved in the work of the Second Vatican Council, and firmly committed to the renewal it brought about. And, of course, Cardinal Ratzinger was one of John Paul's earliest appointments, and has served in the key post of Prefect of the Congregation of the Doctrine of the Faith since 1981. The cardinals could not have picked a person who was closer to John Paul II, personally and doctrinally, than the man who is now Pope Benedict XVI. ZE05041924 email this article TOP Bush Hails New Pontiff as "Man of Great Wisdom" WASHINGTON, D.C., APRIL 19, 2005 (Zenit.org).- U.S. President George Bush praised the new Pope Benedict XVI as "a man of great wisdom and knowledge." The U.S. leader made a statement today at the White House after hearing of the news of Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger's election as Pope. "Laura and I offer our congratulations to Pope Benedict XVI," Bush said. "He's a man of great wisdom and knowledge. He's a man who serves the Lord," he said. "We remember well his sermon at the Pope's funeral in Rome, how his words touched our hearts and the hearts of millions. "We join with our fellow citizens and millions around the world who pray for continued strength and wisdom as His Holiness leads the Catholic Church." ZE04051926 email this article TOP
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